< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Patriots playoff connections

Email|Link|Comments (13) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff January 18, 2009 05:30 AM

Today’s conference championship games – Eagles at Cardinals, and Ravens at Steelers – include the following players with Patriots ties:

Eagles

Kyle Eckel -- Fullback appeared in 12 games for the Patriots in the 2007 season, mostly on special teams, and was with the club in 2008 training camp. In five games this season, he's totaled 24 carries.

Dan Klecko -- Defensive lineman, a fourth-round draft choice of the Patriots in 2003, played in 29 games with three starts from 2003-2005. He's played in all 16 games this season for the first time in his career (three starts), mostly lining up at fullback. On defense, he has totaled four tackles and two sacks.

Asante Samuel -- Cornerback, one of two Patriots fourth-round draft choices in 2003, played in 75 games with 53 starts from 2003-2007. Signed as a marquee free agent by the Eagles this past offseason, he's totaled four interceptions this season and has been a shutdown presence.

Cardinals

Monty Beisel -- Linebacker played in 15 games (6 starts) with the Patriots in 2005, but the match wasn't a fit and he was cut before the 2006 season. He's primarily a special teams player for Arizona.

Victor Hobson -- Linebacker was with the Patriots in 2008 training camp but was released before the season began. He was a late-season signing by Arizona and has appeared in one game.

Sean Morey -- The NFC's Pro Bowl special teams player this season, Morey appeared in two games for the Patriots in 1999.

Pat Ross -- Backup center from Boston College spent time on the Patriots' practice squad in 2007, but never appeared in a game. He has not played for the Cardinals this season.

Ravens

Corey Ivy -- Veteran cornerback was with the Patriots as a rookie in 1999 but did not appear in a game. He plays in sub packages and on special teams.

Steelers

Fernando Bryant -- Veteran cornerback was with the Patriots in 2008 training camp, playing on the first unit, but was cut before the regular season began. An in-season signing for the Steelers, he has played sparingly in a reserve role.

» Back to Front Page

13 comments so far...

Asante, we feel one of our own is on the door step of another Superbowl. We witness you get drafted, watched you grow, snare interceptions, protect Ellis Hobbs from being exposed (hehe, couldn't help the tease), and become an elite NFL CB. So good luck to a true Patriots type player.

Posted by L Gunda January 18, 09 09:43 AM

I just saw the Asante highlight reel on ESPN. Including the sure-interception in the last Superbowl that went through his hands.
It was a lot closer to being caught than I had remembered.

I guess for me Elite means you catch the ball that hits you in the hands to win the Superbowl.

Just one mans opinion.

Posted by FoxboroughGuy January 18, 09 02:38 PM

I hope Asante chokes and my Arizona Cardinals will win the super bowl

Posted by NEM January 18, 09 03:54 PM

Asante isn't looking like a shutdown presence today, hahahaha.

Posted by Matt January 18, 09 04:52 PM

The money grubber Asante may have cost his team 7 points today. Go Cards!

Posted by Bikerdude January 18, 09 05:47 PM

Asante the primaddona "its all about me" Samuel got used like rented mule today against Larry Fitzgerald. I am glad we got rid of the money grubbing bum. He wasn't even upset after his team lost. You could see him yucking it up with Warner. Its all about the money with Samuel -- he is worse than Ty Law in this respect and that's pretty bad.

Posted by J.P. January 18, 09 06:25 PM

A trivia question for post-Super Bowl: Are there any NFO quarterbacks besides Kurt Warner that have loast multiple Super Bowls representing different teams?

Posted by Mark Haley January 18, 09 06:29 PM

About a month ago ... The Pats steamrolled Arizona by 40 ... I love the NFL.

Asante ... not a good day today.

Cards in the SuperBowl ..

Go Ravens ... ANYBODY BUT SHITTSBURGH !

Posted by Blair from Canada January 18, 09 06:30 PM

Mark Haley,

Craig Morton lost Super Bowls V and XII starting for the Cowboys and then the Broncos (against his former team in the latter case.)

Posted by Lance Jonn Romanoff January 18, 09 06:51 PM

And remember, the media will be talking about how the Cardinals will be going for the third championship in their history but they're actually going for their second (the Pottsville Maroons won the 1925 championship).

Posted by Lance January 18, 09 07:21 PM

The Maroons did not win the 1925 championship. I know one can make a tenuous argument that the Maroons are a local Boston team (as they ended their life as the Boston Bulldogs) but no one takes their claim to the 1925 title seriously outside of the Rooney family.

Posted by Lance Jonn Romanoff January 18, 09 10:07 PM

Yes, it's goofy the 9-7 Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl and our team wasted them by 40 points. At the same time, Philly blew them out on Thanksgiving, yet they lost today. Arizona is a different team.

And to the guy who's complaining about Asante "yucking it up" with Warner: The guy already has 2 rings and a huge contract. What is his motivation? You seem to give these athletes too much credit.

Posted by Classless January 18, 09 11:03 PM

Klecko has played for teams (Patriots, Colts, Eagles) that are considered good evaluators of talent and has carved himself out a nice career as a Fullback on playoff teams.

Posted by CN January 19, 09 08:29 AM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

You must be logged in to submit a comment.

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

see all globe blogs